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column building

HUH?
Anything you build will sit on the concrete and weigh it down, you will not need to worry about it flying away.
Will the current 3.5" concrete hold your new columns? Of course not, you want footings for that.

column building

If your having these columns built for you by a mason, they could likely determine that the patio slab is not suitable to support the specific weight. Given the few details you provided such as the intension for these columns, I would suggest this;

Cut and remove the slab to the size of the given columns and expose the ground. Dig holes deep enough to reach below the frost line for your area. Pour a footing of concrete flush to the hight of your patio surface or slightly above. Keep the footing isolated from the patio edges about a 1/2" all around. Build your columns on top of these new footings. There will be no weight on your slab and there will be room for any slight movement between the slab and footing.

If this sounds like a suitable solution to you I'm sure anyone here could give you more instructions on how to cut concrete and form footings for brick columns.

column building

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ Force

If your having these columns built for you by a mason, they could likely determine that the patio slab is not suitable to support the specific weight. Given the few details you provided such as the intension for these columns, I would suggest this;

Cut and remove the slab to the size of the given columns and expose the ground. Dig holes deep enough to reach below the frost line for your area. Pour a footing of concrete flush to the hight of your patio surface or slightly above. Keep the footing isolated from the patio edges about a 1/2" all around. Build your columns on top of these new footings. There will be no weight on your slab and there will be room for any slight movement between the slab and footing.

If this sounds like a suitable solution to you I'm sure anyone here could give you more instructions on how to cut concrete and form footings for brick columns.

Good advice. I think the only information missing is that when you get down to footer depth, you are going to have to start digging sideways, in all directions, to make room for a footing at least 4" (better to have 6") wider than the column hole. That's 4" wider on all sides... and it should have two or three rebars running in two directions. (crisscrossed).

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Willie T

column building

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie T

you are going to have to start digging sideways, in all directions, to make room for a footing at least 4" (better to have 6") wider than the column hole. That's 4" wider on all sides... and it should have two or three rebars running in two directions. (crisscrossed).

Yes exactly. Especially if there's anything being built ontop of these brick columns such as railings or posts for a roof.